Door operating mechanism



April 25, 1939. A-. o. WILLIAMS DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Original FiledApril 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l fi, Z w Q\ 6 Q m w vis? b/ ,r 6 \m a? Izllz h n f w m Z I H mu w ml 0 o 0 Q Q o o O O 0 mi B O n 4% wm @M Q\ mm9n fl Q mm QR Q Q g 8 nQ g WQ\ \W 9% \W W MUG 3 Q Q o 3, \wv \v km ms.ww mm April 25, 1939. 'A..O. WILLIAMS DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 20, 1936 wm mw w m Rae/afar awed 0ZdZZZZO/YZS Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT FFiCE Alfred 0.Williams, Battle by mesne assignments, to Company, Buchanan,

Michigan Original application April 11 Claims.

This invention relates to operating mechanisms for doors and the like,and is directed particularly to the actuating means. for operating apair of doors for vehicles such as buses, street cars, rail cars and thelike.

The present invention is a division of my copending application, SerialNo. 75,503, filed April 20, 1936.

Broadly, the present invention comprises an actuating mechanism adjacent the door well and operated in such manner as to producesimultaneous bodily movement and rotation of the doors into position atthe sides of the well during door opening movement, and to bring thedoors together in door closing movement.

The present actuating mechanism can be installed in a vehicle of theclass described either for operating doors at the front or rear of thevehicle or doors midway between the ends thereof, since the underlyingprinciples of operation are the same in all cases. Primarily, itcomprises an actuating member which may take the form of alongitudinally moving member having connection at opposite ends tolinks. which are in turn rotated by the longitudinal movement of thismember to effect rotation of carrier brackets supporting the doors.While the pres.- ent mechanism is described in connection with aspecific form of door mechanism for purposes of illustration, it is tobe understood that the actuating means can ticn of other types of doormechanisms without in any way departing from the present invention.

One object of the present invention is to provide means which willactuate the doors by the unidirectional movement of a single actuatingmember and which returns the doors to closed position upon reversemovement of this member. This provides a simplified type of operatingand actuating mechanism.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of aconstruction wherein the doors are cushioned for movement adjacent theirextreme positions so that they will operate with the minimum of noiseand, in case of obstructions, will not damage the mechanism. This alsoprevents the doors from slamming into opened or closed positions.

Another feature of the present invention is the simplified constructionof the actuating mechanism requiring only the movement of one member tosecure operation of both of the. doors or of a series of doors connectedthereto, the moving member being guided upon a stationary be employedfor the opera-' Creek, Mich assignor, Clark Equipment Mich, acorporation of 20, 1936, Serial No.

Divided and this application October Serial No. 107,159

member which also acts as a means for transmitting the actuating forceto the moving member.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear morefully from the following detailed description which, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to thoseskilled in the art the particular construction and operation of thepreferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side section, showing one ticn;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through one form of the actuating cylinder;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through a modified form ofactuating cylinder;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through a preferred form of the actuatingcylinder, taken on an enlarged scale;

' Figure 4a is a partial sectional view corresponding to Figure 4showing the operating cylinder in its other direction of movement; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I have disclosed in Figure 1 apair of doors 5 and 6 supported at their lower ends on studs 1 carriedby the extending arms 8, which arms at their opposite ends are pivotedon suitable thrust bearings 9 carried within the bearing supports l0.

At their upper ends, the doors 5 and 6 are provided with ofiset pivotstuds l2 mounted in fixed position above the upper edge of the door bythe supporting plates l3, which may be riveted or otherwise suitablysecured to the doors. It will be noted that the studs 1 and l2 serve tosupport the doors for rotation about the vertical plane extendingcentrally through each of the door members.

Mounted on a defining portion of the door well and disposed above thedoor opening within the outer wall of the vehicle, I provide a suitablebracket 20 having means 2! receiving bolts or the like for securing thebracket to the supporting surface, which preferably comprises ahorizontal plate. The bracket 20 is provided with a central offsetportion containing a pair of inlet ports connected to the conduits 22and 23. These inlet ports communicate with vertical passageways 24 and.25 which, intermediate their ends, open into horizontally extendingpassageways 26 and 21 as shown in Figure 2. The inner face portion or heofiset boss is provided with a'flanged surface elevational View, partlyin form the present invenvided with the radial passage 'spect thereto, Iprovide the that the passage 32' 28 to which is secured a stationarypiston member 29, as by means of bolts 30.

The member 29 is provided with longitudinally extending passageways 32and 33 communicating respectively by normally extending passageways withthe transverse passageways 26 and 21. Itwill thus be apparent that fluidunder pressure admitted through conduit 22 to the port 24 will passoutwardly from the member 29 through Similarly, fluid 1111- her 29through passageways 21 and 33. No communication between the conduits 22and 23 is provided. 7

Each end of the member 29 is provided with a cup-shaped gasket member 35secured thereto and having a central opening aligned with the respectivepassageways 32 and 33. Disposed about the member 25 and reciprocatorywith recylinder 36 having the cutaway portion 31 providing for clearanceof the upstanding portion of the bracket 26.

cylinder 36 is closed at its ends by the cap memcollar portions 4!] and42 preferably formed integral therewith and having vertical passagewaysextending therethrough. I

It will be apparent that upon admission of fluid under pressure from theconduit 23 into the passageway 33, the cylinder 36 will move from theposition shown in Figure 2 toward the right under theinfluence of, thepressure built up in the right hand end of the cylinder. At the sametime fluid will be exhausted from within the space 43 at the left handend of the cylinder, through the passageway 32 and the conduit 22 toallow movement of the cylinder. To efiect movement in the oppositedirection, the conduit 23 will be open to exhaust and fluid underpressure will be supplied from conduit 22 through passageway 32 to thespace 43 to move the cylinder 36 to the left.

I'have found that itis advantageous to provide tion shown in Figure 3.

Considering Figure 3 in detail, it will be noted in the piston 29 isenlarged in diameter and is adapted to receive the pilot I 25 of themodified cap provided with an axial passage I26. At its outer end, thepilot is provided with an offset extension I2? which has a slightclearance, indicated at I 28, with respect to the internal surface ofthe cylinder 36.

A radial passageway I29 extends from the passage I25 outwardly throughthe extension I 21 and is provided with a valve seat normally engaged bythe ball check valve I313. The ball I30 cannot escape from thepassage byreason of the relatively small clearance I28 with respect to thecylinder. The end of the cap member 38 is pro- I32 extending frompassage I26 outwardly to the normally extending bore or passage I 33communicating with the interior of the cylinder 35. A suitable needlevalve member I34 carried by the cap member 38 is ad Justable toward andaway from valve seat I35 in member 38', which pilot is,

33. A similar construction is provided at the opposite end of thecylinder 36 in place of cap member 39.

exhausted through passages I33, I32 and past valve seat I35 into passageI26. However, any fluid from the interior of cylinder 36 which attemptsto escape through passage 523 to passage I26 will serve to hold valveI30 on its seat and, consequently, the exhaust of fluid pressure will bemetered by valve I34.

As the cylinder nears the end of its movement in this direction thefluid pressure in this end of the cylinder will restrain and cushion itsmovement so as to prevent the doors from being forcibly slammed intotheir full open position.

In door closing movement, fluid under'pressure is admitted to passage32' and hence to passage I 26. Under such conditions, however, thepressure unseats ball check valve I38) and this fluid can thereforeescape directly into the interior of the left hand end of cylinder 36. Aportion of the fluid will also pass into the cylinder through passagesI32 and I33. Thus there is no substantial restriction to the entrance offluid under pressure into the actuating end of the cylinder. However,the doors are cushioned against abrupt movement into fully closedposition by the restraining action at the opposite end of the cylindercorresponding to that pre-- to a sprocket, gear, or pinion 56 mountedfor rotation about stud 54 and preferably, a bushing or bearing sleeve51 is tion of the pinion with respect to the stud.

provided to facilitate rota- This pinion or similar gear meshes with a.

second gear 58 keyed tothe reduced portion 59 of a shaft 69wherebylongitudinal movement of The bracket 55 is provided with anoifset portion 66 which carries a depending stud member 3? receiving thehub 7%? of a laterally extending stud'12. A split clampnut !3 isthreaded over the end of the stud 2 and also over the threaded end 14 ofarack arm 75 which has rack teeth 15 formed along one vertical surfacethereof.

The shaft 59 is provided with the roughened portion I8 adapted toreceive a bracket member I9 mounted for conjoint rotation therewith. Thebracket I9 is provided with a peripheral wall portion 85 forming ahousing in which is disposed a roller member 82 mounted for freerotation on a stud shaft 33 carried on the bottom wall of the bracket.The roller has bearing engagement with the fiat surface opposite thetooth portion of the arm I to maintain the teeth of this arm inengagement with the pinion 85 carried by the stud I2 forming the upperdoor pivot. The pinion 84 is keyed to the stud and a suitable cap plate86 is secured over the top of the pinion to prevent the rack I5 frommoving out of engagement vertically with respect to the pinion. The studI2 is mounted for rotation relative to the bracket I9 by means ofsuitable bearings Bl carried in a boss portion 88 formed in the bottomwall of the bracket 79. A reenforcing rib 95 extends from the boss 88 tothe hub portion of the bracket I9. Due to the lateral displacementbetween shaft BII and the stud 51, any horizontal swinging movement ofthe bracket I9 will result in rotation of the pinion 84 which willrotate stud I2 to cause corresponding rotation of the door 5. By thespacing between the pivot-points, the degree of rotation of the doorrelative to the arcuate movement of the bracket can be determined, andthis may be readily adjusted by varying the relative diameter of thepinion with respect to the rack, or by the spacing of the pivots.

In the operation of the mechanism thus far described, admission of fluidunder pressure to the right hand end of the piston 35 will result inmovement of the cylinder 35 to the right, producing counterclockwiserotation of the arm 53. ihis results in clockwise rotation of the pinion58, in turn producing counterclockwise rotation of the bracket 19. Thistends to move the pinion 84 carried by the door stud I2 inwardly alongthe rack arm I5, resulting in the rotation of this pinion in a clockwisedirection to produce corresponding rotation of the door. The meetingedge 92 of the door will therefore move laterally away from the middleof the door opening and slightly outwardly, and will then rotate intofinal open position with the edge 92 disposed at the side of the openingand at the front edge thereof.

For closing the door, the arm 15 merely re verses its pivotal movementabout pivot 50 and the door returns from its position against the wallI5 into a position closing the corresponding half of the door opening.Rotation of the shaft 6!! produces corresponding rotation of the member63 and likewise rotates arm 8 which has pivotal connection with thedoor. Thus the door rotates about a central Vertical plane in adirection opposite to the arcuate rotative movement of the brackets I9and 8.

The operation for opening door 6 is similar except that countershaft 54may be omitted since the motion of the cylinder-35 effects the properdirection of rotation of the shaft 55, which carries the bracket I5supporting this door. Similar parts are indicated by correspondingreference numerals for the two actuating mechanisms.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of aconstruction for cushioning the movement of the doors into and out ofclosed and opened position. The supporting bracket 20', corresponding tothe bracket 20 of Figure 1, is provided with the two ports MI! and I42which terminate in laterally extending openings I43 and I64,respectively, communicating with the ports I45 and I55 of the stationarypiston M! which is bolted to the face Hit of the bracket 25 by means ofa plurality of bolts I49.

The piston I41 is of a form similar to that shown in Figure 3 but isprovided with enlarged axially extending passageways I55 and I52directed toward opposite ends of the piston and provided adjacent theopposite ends with enlarged portions I53. Each end of the piston I41 isprovided with a radially extending flange portion I55 which is of adiameter slightly less than the diameter of the interior of the cylinderI55. The cylinder I55 is provided at each end with a threaded cap memberI55 closing the end and having an axially projecting stem portion I51which is centered for reciprocal movement in the passageways I55 andI52. The stem I5? is axially bored to provide the passageway I58 whichterminates in a radially extending passageway I59, as shown in detail inFigure 5, having a valve seat I50 controlled by the metering valvemember I62 threaded radially into the cap member I55. The flow of fluidfrom the passageway I58 through the passageway I59 and past the valveseat I50 is controlled by the valve I52 which meters the escape of fluidthrough the opening I63 into the interior of the cylinder I55. Each ofthe cap members I55 is provided with an extending arm portion I55corresponding to the arms 33 and 42 of the members 38 and 39 of Figure2.

Secured to the outer face of the piston flanges I54 is a leather cupgasket I51 adapted to have sealing engagement with the internal surfaceof the cylinder I55 and held in position by a plurality of screws I58which also serve to position a platelike spider member I59 in position.

Slidab-ly mounted on the external surface of the stem I51 is a sleevevalve member IIil having a radially extending flange I12 which is lockedbetween the inner end of the spider member I69 and the face of thepiston. A suitable resilient gasket member II'S seated in an annularrecess formed at the outer end of the enlarged portion I53 of thepassageway I50 limits the. reciprocal movement of the slide I75 withrespect to the end of the piston. The spider member I69 is provided witha pluralityof circumferentially spaced openings I'M which providecommunication between the interior of the cylinder I55 between thepiston and the cap I56 and the passage-way I50.

In the operation of Figures 4 and 5, when fluid. under pressure isadmitted through the passageway I55 and port I45 into the passage I55,this fluid escapes through the enlarged passage I53 and. the ports I14into the interior of the cylinder between the cap member and the piston.A portion of the fluid also passes through the stern I5? and past theneedle valve I52 into the interior of the cylinder. The increase ofpressure in. the interior of the cylinder forces the cylinder I55 to theleft as viewed in Figure i, and results in movement of the stenr I5?axially outwardly of the passage I55. This results in the sleeve memberIIEI closing cit the port I15, which closes off communication betweenthe passageway I55 and the enlarged portion I53 of the passageway I55,and consequently reduces the amount of fluid the structure shown inescaping around the stem I57, thereby reducing the amount of fluidadmitted to ports I74 into the end of the cylinder. The passage of fluidinto the interior of the cylinder I55 between the gasket I67 and the capI56 then moves the cylinder into a position to open the doors to theirfull open position, but this latter movement is at a reduced rate due tothe blocking of passageway I75 by sleeve member Hi].

In closing the doors, the passageway I42 is supplied with fluid underpressure which produces a corresponding flow of fluid through thepassageway I52 at the opposite end of the piston and tends to move thecylinder I55 to the right. This results in inward movement of the stemI57 within the passageway 550 and produces an increase in pressure ofthe fluid confined between the gasket I67 and the cap member I58 withinthe left hand end of the cylinder. The sleeve member I79 moves withstem. I57 and after predetermined movement of stem I57 moves intoposition against the gasket I73 and, due to the tapered surface I 76, asealing engagement between the flange 72 and the gasket #73 is provided.This prevents escape of fluid from the ports I74 past the flange H2 andthe enlarged portion I53 and into the passage I59. As a result the fluidconfined between the end of the cylinder and the piston must escapethrough the port I63 and past the needled valve I62 and into the passageI58. Since this path of flow is metered, it will be obvious that thefluid can escape only at a given rate and consequently, the cylinderwill be cushioned against abrupt closing movement by reason of the bodyof fluid confined in the end at which it escapes at a slow rate into thepassage I50 into the stem adjusting the position of the valve I62, anydesired cushioning effect can be provided inv accordance with the rateof closing which is to be eirected.

It is obvious that during door opening movement, the same type ofcushioning action is produced at the right hand end of the cylinder I55and consequently, the doors cannot be moved abruptly into their fullopen position, but are cushioned so as to at first move at a relativelyfast rate in their opening movement until the closes the passageway I75at The doors then slow down to any given movement as they near theirfull open position.

It is also to be pointed out that since the sleeve member I76 closes theport I75 atfer' a predetermined movement of the cylinder in door openingposition, the full fluid pressure is not transmitted as rapidly to thehead of the cylinder after the cylinder has reached a position such thatthe member I covers the port I and thus, the effective force tending toopen the doors is reduced as the doors near their full open position. Asimilar action occurs at the opposite end of the cylinder duringdoor-closing movement.

It is therefor apparent that I positions whereby their operation isaccomplished with the least amount of strain on the mechanism, while yetmaintaining an efiicient rate of movement during the major portion ofeach operation.

I am aware that various changes in construction and details of operationcan be made in the present invention without departing from theunderlying features thereof, and I therefore do not intend to belimited, except as defined by the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. Means for actuating doors and the like comprising a cylinder supporthaving separate oppositely extending axial passageways, a cylinderenclosing said support and reciprocatory thereon, and means carried bythe ends of said cylinder including tubular pilots extending into saidpassageways and having valve means therein for metering the exhaust offluid from the interior of said cylinder through each of said pilots andthe associated passageways.

2. Means for actuating doors and the like comprising a cylinder supporthaving enlarged ends and a reduced intermediate portion, separate axialpassageways extending from said in termediate portion to each end, acylinder enclosing said support and guided for reciprocation on saidenlarged ends, end caps on said cylinder having axially directed tubularpilots extending into said passageways, valve means carried by saidpilots and cooperating with said enlarged ends of said support tocontrol flow of fluid from said passageways around said pilots into saidcylinder, and means for alternately introducing fluid under pressurethrough each of said passageways into the corresponding ends of saidcylinder and exhausting fluid from said cylinder through the other ofsaid passageways.

3. Operating means for doors and the like ends, a cylinder having closedends mounted for reciprocatory movement on said enlarged ends, pilots onthe ends of said cylinder extending into said passageways and controlvalve means between said enlarged ends and said pilots and operable tocontrol passage of fluid from said passageways into said cylinder atsaid enlarged ends.

4. Operating means for doors and the like,

a cylinder mounted for valve means carried by each end cap of saidcylinder including a metered exhaust valve and a ball check inlet valvefor controlling the exhaust of fluid therefrom through said pilots uponadmission of' fluid under pressure to the opposite end of said cylinder.

5. Operating means for doors and the like, comprising a support havingoppositely extending radially flanged ends, a cylinder enclosing saidsupport and piloted for reciprocatory movement on said ends, separatepassageways leading through said support and opening axially into theopposite ends of said cylinder, end caps carried by said cylinder andhaving axially extendpassageways, caps for metering exhaust of fluidfrom each end of said cylinder through said pilots and passageways.

6. Operating mechanism for doors and the like comprising a stationarybracket having an offset at both ends and mounted for reciprocatorymovement with respect to said cylindrical portion of said bracket inaccordance with admission of fluid pressure into said passageways,tubular pilots loosely fitting in said passageways and supported forreciprocatory movement with said cylinder, and valve means about saidpilots at the ends of the cylindrical portion of said bracket wherebyfluid passageways are provided into the cylinder from within the pilotsand also externally about said pilots through said valve means.

7. In combination, a bracket, a cylinder support carried by saidbracket, a pair of separate fluid ports in said bracket, axiallyextending passages in said support communicating respectively with saidports, a cylinder mounted for reciprocation on said support, end caps onsaid cylinder having axially inwardly directed pilots extending intosaid passages and reciprocatory therein during reciprocation of saidcylinder, passageways in said pilots and end caps for conducting fluidunder pressure from said passages through said end caps into theinterior of said cylinder, and means for metering return flow of fluidfrom said cylinder through said end caps and pilots to said passages.

8. A fluid operated motor comprising a stationary member havingoppositely directed cylindrical supports provided with separate axiallyopening fluid passageways, a cylindrical member mounted forreciprocation on said supports, end caps closing said member and havinginwardly extending tubular pilots guided in said passageways, saidpassageways having enlarged bores adjacent said supports, a valve seatformed about said bores, and valve means carried by said pilots andadapted to selectively engage said seats upon alternate movements ofsaid cylinder.

9. A fluid operated motor comprising a stationary member havingoppositely directed cylindrical supports provided with independentaxially directed passageways having enlarged bores at the outer faces ofsaid supports, a cylindrical member enclosing said supports and mountedfor reciprocatory movement thereon, end caps on said cylindrical memberhaving tubular pilots extending into said passageways, and means carriedby said pilots and cooperating with said enlarged bores providing forclosing of the exhaust end of said cylinder against fluid dischargeabout the periphery of said pilot into said passageway afterpredetermined movement of said cylinder.

10. In combination, a stationary support having two spaced supportingflanges having independent axial passageways, a cylindrical memberreciprocatory on said flanges and having end closure means includingtubular pilots guided in said passageways and having metered exhaustvalves opening into the ends of said member, said pilots being movablerelative to said passageways upon reciprocation of saidmember.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein means is provided for sealingthe passageways against discharge of fluid therethrough about saidpilots.

ALFRED O. WILLIAMS.

